Fiat's tiny 500 light car has evolved into a bigger, longer five-door version, reviving the 500L badge. But while the original L represented a makeover for the regular model, this new 500L is all about cramming in more friends and more gear.

Rather than stretch the current 500's platform however, Fiat has built the Idea-replacing 500L on the same underpinnings as the new 2012 Fiat Panda.

Unlike the Panda, the 500L benefits from the retro-cool front-end styling of the smaller 500, including its own take on the quad-headlight arrangement and winged badge trim.

The 500L Also picks up beefier guards than the Panda, and the more rounded rear-end features a pair of smaller centre-mounted taillights, doing away with the Panda's pillar lights.

The new 500 variant measures 4140mm long, 1660mm tall and 1780mm wide, making it a little longer and taller than the MINI Countryman and the Kia Soul, and around the same width.

In Europe, the 500L will be powered by a pair of petrol engines and a single diesel, including Fiat's TwinAir engine and a 1.4 litre petrol unit, and a 1.3 litre MultiJet turbodiesel engine.

While the 500L will hit the European market later this year, Fiat's Australian distributor Ateco has confirmed that the car is not bound for Australia.

"It won’t come to Australia as it is built for a market sector that does not exist in Australia, micro people movers," Ateco Public Affairs Manager, Edward Rowe said.

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TMR Comments

Smart us | 03 Feb 2012 00:30

finally a good news

buscar | 03 Feb 2012 03:00

The sooner FIAT/Chrysler take back control the better. Its a small 5 door hatch not a micro people mover !!!!!

5 valve per cylinder | 03 Feb 2012 06:00

Clearly this is a marketing ploy to sell the 500 in another variant.. the Panda which it was based on looks so much better.
Pity we don't have more of these type of vehicles.. think the Terios is the only one I can remember.

Mr. Sanchez | 05 Feb 2012 22:27

Fiat need to expand their range, bring over the Punto Abarth to compete with Polo Gti/Skoda Vrs, surely there is a market for this kind of car considering the waiting list on the Volkswagen product. What happened to the beautiful but unfortunately named Ritmo? Surely they can get the pricing right for these cars with 'Twin Air' tech?